While playing against elite talent as a teenager gave Wallmark a significant boost when it came to joining the AHL, key differences between the two leagues make the adjustment a little more complicated.

“In my opinion, the biggest thing is the size of the ice,” said Samuelsson. “Everything happens quicker here and you don’t have a lot of bail out areas where you can disappear with the puck. With the smaller ice surface you’re forced to make plays quicker.”

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“In my opinion, the biggest thing is the size of the ice,” said Samuelsson. “Everything happens quicker here and you don’t have a lot of bail out areas where you can disappear with the puck. With the smaller ice surface you’re forced to make plays quicker.”

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I thought this was interesting considering the recent question Lake posed as to TT shooting more. I know TT is a Fin but in general just maybe these kids are taught to be play makers and defensive forwards first.

“He’s been shooting more,” said Samuelsson. “He’s getting away from that Swedish ‘pass first’ mentality and now he’s looking to see if he has any opportunity to get the puck to the net.”

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It took some time for the Checkers’ offense to start clicking, as they found themselves in a 1-0 hole halfway through regulation, but a Dennis Robertson strike from the blue line late in the second frame breathed new life into the home squad.

Phil Di Giuseppe then gave Charlotte a lead in the final minute of the period and they never looked back.

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The Checkers lost a 3-1 lead in the first period and also lost star goaltender Michael Leighton to injury during a disappointing 6-3 loss in Milwaukee on Friday.

A pair of injuries last night have left the Checkers shorthanded and forced them to reach to the ECHL’s Florida Everblades for reinforcements.

After making his fifth straight start, netminder Michael Leighton exited last night’s contest seven minutes into the second period due to an injury and did not return. In response to the loss of the veteran, the Checkers have recalled Daniel Altshuller from Florida.

Before Leighton’s injury, the Checkers lost another big piece last night as alternate captain Patrick Dwyer suffered an injury during warmups in Milwaukee. While having one extra forward allowed them to fill the spot last night, the Checkers now sit with an even 12 healthy options up front without Dwyer, leading to the team recalling Clark Bishop

Andrew Poturalski on the game-winner: “We kind of had the full ice for the two-on-one – I’m not used to those – but I gave it to Danny [Kristo] and he made a heck of a fake. Kind of even faked me out a little bit, but he put it on my tape and I put it in the open net. It was a great play by him.”

Charlotte now trails Cleveland by three points in the standings with one game in hand. As of tonight, the Checkers would have to catch both Cleveland and Iowa to make the playoffs

Bickell on his next step: “It worked out that we had just home games so I don’t have to go on the road for a while. Hopefully we progress in the right way and it’s nice to get a couple of home games in front of my wife and my two kids to come watch this game. I know they’re excited, and I got a couple of texts from family and friends who are posting tabs and wanted to see how this game went. Obviously there’s a lot of room for improvement, but it’s baby steps right now.”

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The Checkers moved to solidify their goaltending situation with the addition of Tom McCollum on Wednesday.

McCollum, who the Checkers acquired on loan from the Stockton Heat, is a 27-year-old veteran of 227 AHL games with Grand Rapids and Stockton, during which time he has posted a 104-91-13 record, 2.78 goals-against average and .905 save percentage.

In a corresponding move, the Checkers assigned rookie Alex Nedeljkovic to the ECHL’s Florida Everblades. The team also swapped forwards with Florida on Wednesday, assigning Mitchell Heard to the Everblades and recalling Clark Bishop.

Welcoming their final California opponent to town this season, the Checkers’ offense battled through for a 5-3 win over the Ontario Reign.

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Woods on the playoff push:
“When you look at the standings every day when you walk into the room, you see that we’re fighting for that last spot. They’re a good team in their division and those are big points. We’re going to enjoy it for a little bit but we’ve got another game tomorrow and we’ve got to be ready.”

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Head coach Ulf Samuelsson on the weekend sweep:
“It’s almost a must for us to get in the race. We’re behind, so we’re slowly putting ourselves in a position where it’s a battle for a playoff spot. It’s very exciting, and the boys are having fun with it.”

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The 29-year-old Hanson ranks second on the Allen Americans in scoring with 71 points in 52 games, tying him for sixth in the ECHL, while his 33 goals are tied for fourth in the league. The Swede has helped the Americans capture each of the last two Kelly Cups, earning playoff MVP honors in 2014-15, and has become an elite scorer in the ECHL over his six-year career,

The move to bring on Hanson comes at a time when the Checkers are dealing with an influx of missing bodies up front

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Charlotte is now just two points behind Iowa with a game in hand and can climb into a playoff spot with a win in tomorrow’s rematch … The Checkers’ five-game win streak is their longest since they went on a season-high, six-game run from Oct. 28-Nov. 11

With junior seasons coming to an end, the Checkers have brought on their first up-and-coming prospect in Hudson Elynuik, who inked an amateur tryout contract with Charlotte on Tuesday.

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So, Hudson Elynuik (2016 draft, 3rd round), all 6' 5" of him, just signed an ATO to play for the Checkers during the playoff run. I'm anxious to see what he can do coming off a very good junior season and poised to play in Charlotte next season. Can you say net front presence.

it was the red-hot Connor Brickley who came through for the Checkers, collecting a loose puck and sliding it past Iowa netminder Alex Stalock with less than three minutes to go to clinch Charlotte’s fifth consecutive victory.